Epilogue
Captain Maria Hill let her gaze drift. The apartment was nice. Not too big but still spacious, with large windows and bright colours, the walls covered in photographs of friends and family through the years. The living room was filled with adults, some of which Maria recognised, some of which she didn’t, but she walked past all of them towards the kitchen and out into the garden where the children were playing.
“Captain!” Peggy Carter stepped up to her, smiling brightly, “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Ten years ago, after the trial of Brock Pierce, Peggy had approached her and proclaimed that law enforcement was the way to go for her and if Maria couldn’t be her mentor – naturally, Maria had agreed. Now, Peggy was a detective who had just solved her first major case and, like every year, invited Maria to her daughter’s birthday party.
Hope Carter, who ‘took entirely after her mum’ as Bucky had assured her, was an exceptional human being. Maria had never particularly liked children but Hope? Hope was perfect. She was smart and strong and soft in a way that seemed almost surreal. And Maria had watched her grow up, year after year, and she was oddly proud of this young girl that was currently showing Clint Coulson up in darts. Hope really did take after her mum, her hair was brown with a hint of red and her eyes attentive and clever, she was confident and demanding but at the same time kind and considerate.
“Would you like something to drink?” Peggy asked.
“Coffee would be nice,” Maria answered and Peggy nodded, vanishing into the kitchen, while Maria went back to watching Hope, or at least that’s what she would have done, had Hope dad not stood in front of her.
“Captain Hill,” he greeted her, offering his hand, “Nice to see you again.”
“And you, Mr. Rogers.” Barnes-Rogers, she reminded herself. She hadn’t gone to the wedding but Peggy had told her all about it and showed her about a million photos and videos. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thank you. What about yourself?”
“I can’t complain.”
“That’s good to hear. Hope’ll be pleased to see you as well. She’s been up since five this morning…or so I’ve been told. Driving Pegs and Angie up the walls.”
Maria chuckled, “I don’t envy them.”
“Neither do I,” Steve replied, “I’ve been there.”
It was then that Peggy came back with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.
“There you go,” she said as she handed both to Maria who accepted it gratefully. “Tell me, Steve,” Peggy continued, turning towards the blond, “Where’s your husband?”
“With your wife, I believe,” Steve answered.
“Of course…where else?”
Maria chuckled lightly into her coffee. It wasn’t just Hope that she was proud of, it was also them…these people that she’d met when they’d only been teenagers, seeing them grow up to be the people they were now.
Steve and Bucky had married about five years ago, so had Peggy and Angie – as far as Maria knew, all four were equally involved in Hope’s life, giving the girl a total of four parents.
Natasha and Clint had broken up after school, now Natasha was engaged to Sam Wilson, and Clint and Pietro had been more or less together for several years.
Tony Stark and Pepper Potts had recently tied the knot and judging by the bump on Pepper’s belly, she was at least four months pregnant, maybe more.
They were adults now, all with their own lives, and all here to celebrate little Hope…speaking of which –
“Hello Captain Hill,” the girl greeted her with a smile that was brighter than the sun.
“Hello young lady, I’ve heard it’s your birthday, is that correct?” Hope nodded proudly. “Well, in that case,” Maria said, reaching into her bag, “I should give you this.” She handed over a small package and watched as Hope excitedly unwrapped a book on dinosaurs, given her latest obsession with the prehistoric creatures.
“Wow!” Hope breathed out, her eyes growing wide, “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
It was then that Bucky and Angie emerged from the kitchen and joined them, smiling happily at the girl as she presented her new book before she went on to her friends.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Captain,” Angie said, “She’s been obsessed with becoming a palaeontologist, though god only know where she even learned that word from.”
“Jurassic Park,” Bucky supplied proudly, “She’ll be out and about, digging up bones in no time.”
“After she’s become a Hollywood movie star, and a revolutionist, you mean,” Steve chipped in.
“Naturally.”
The two men snickered while the Peggy and Angie looked half amused, half disapproving, shaking their heads at their friends’ antics.
Watching them all, Maria remembered what Mrs. Carter, Peggy’s and Sharon’s grandmother had said after the trial, “They’re still so young. They still have their whole lives ahead of them but I know my Peggy and if anyone can do it, it’s her. And I met Steve and Bucky and Angie and they’re good people. Such good people. And I’m not worried.”
And really, Maria thought, there was never anything to be worried about.